Latest / Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History / Marcus Aurelius and the Sarmatian Cavalry
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- Lucas: So we've talked a lot about Marcus Aurelius's wars on the Danube — the Marcomanni, the Quadi. But there's a third group that gets overshadowed, and they were arguably the most dangerous: the Iazyges. A Sarmatian tribe, masters of heavy cavalry. Luna: Iazyges — I've seen that name in Cassius Dio. They were the ones with the cataphract armor, right? Lucas: Exactly. The cataphract — horse and rider both covered in scale armor, like a medieval knight but centuries before. They fought with long lances, called contus, and they were almost impossible to stop if they got momentum. The Romans had faced them before, but never on this scale. Lucas: During the Marcomannic Wars, the Iazyges occupied the plains between the Danube and the Tisza — modern-day Hungary. They raided deep into Roman territory, all the way to Carnuntum, where Marcus had his headquarters. The emperor had to dispatch his best generals, like Pertinax — later emperor himself — to contain them. Luna: Was there a decisive battle? Lucas: Not one single battle, but a series of campaigns. The most famous engagement was probably in 173 CE, when the Romans finally cornered the Iazyges on the frozen Danube. The ice broke under the weight of the cataphracts — Dio tells us many drowned. After that, the Iazyges sued for peace. Lucas: Marcus was surprisingly lenient. He allowed them to keep their lands, but imposed strict conditions: they had to return Roman prisoners, provide hostages, and — most interestingly — supply 5,500 cavalrymen to the Roman army. And these weren't auxiliary units kept on the Danube; Marcus sent them to Britain. Luna: Wait — Sarmatian cavalry in Britain? That's a long way from home. Lucas: It was a strategic move. Britain had its own frontier troubles — the northern tribes, like the Caledonians, were restless. The Iazyges were formidable horsemen, but they were also far from their homeland, so less likely to rebel. Dio mentions that 5,500 were dispatched, and they were stationed at the fort of Bremenium — modern High Rochester in Northumberland. Lucas: And here's where it gets really interesting. Some historians think these Sarmatian cavalrymen might be the origin of the Arthurian legend. The Romans called them 'Sarmatians', but later Britons might have corrupted that to 'Saracens' or — well, the link is debated. But the image of the armored knight on horseback, with a lance — that could very well have been inspired by these veterans. Luna: So Marcus not only fought them, he integrated them into the empire. That's very Stoic — turning enemies into allies. Lucas: It was pragmatic. Marcus's approach to the barbarian problem was not just to defeat them, but to incorporate them. He settled many within the empire, gave them land, and enlisted them in the legions. It was a policy that would have long-term consequences — some would say it diluted Roman identity, others that it strengthened the empire. Lucas: There's a telling passage in the Meditations where Marcus writes: 'The best revenge is to not be like your enemy.' He applied that to warfare too. He studied the Iazyges, learned their tactics, and then used them. Luna: Did the Iazyges ever cause trouble again after Marcus? Lucas: They remained relatively quiet for decades. But in the third century, with the empire in crisis, they raided again. Eventually, the emperor Aurelian — who we've talked about — abandoned Dacia, and the Iazyges filled the vacuum. But that's another story. Lucas: You know, it's fascinating how Marcus's reign represents a turning point. Before him, Rome was still expanding. After him, it was mostly defending. And the Iazyges — a people who have almost no written history of their own — are a perfect lens to see that shift. Luna: Their story is really part of the empire's story, even if we don't hear it often. Lucas: Exactly. And speaking of stories that deserve to be told — if you've been coming with us episode by episode, exploring the Mediterranean world and beyond, you know this show is ad-free and independent. That only works because listeners like you support it on buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Every little bit helps keep these deep dives going. Luna: Yeah, it's a small way to say you value this kind of history — the kind that doesn't just stick to the famous names. Lucas: Anyway, back to the Iazyges. One last detail: the 5,500 they sent to Britain were not just soldiers. They brought their culture, their religion — they worshiped a sword-god, maybe akin to Mars. Some of their burial mounds in Britain show Sarmatian-style artifacts. So for a few generations, there was a little piece of the Hungarian plain in Northumberland. Luna: That's the kind of detail that makes history feel alive. Lucas: And it reminds us that empires are never just one thing. They're constantly absorbing, adapting, and changing. Marcus Aurelius knew that better than most.